The state of New Mexico is a popular tourist attraction, famous for places such as Santa Fe, the Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell (the UFO landing site), and the Billy the Kid Museum. However, based on the chart above, the final 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health’s (NSDUH) survey ranked New Mexico highest in the country. Globally,New Mexico’s rates on alcohol or drug abuse have remained at or above the national rates.

The 2006 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) states that the amount of treatment facilities in New Mexico has remained stable. In 2006, there were 120 facilities; 11 were owned or ran by tribal governments; and 32 facilities offered treatment in American Indian languages. The latter is extremely important because there are many non-English speaking residents in New Mexico.

In an effort to provide a number of alcohol and drug treatment services, 103 treatment facilities in New Mexico offer outpatient care; an additional 31 facilities offer residential care; 10 offer an opioid treatment program; and 93 physicians and 13 treatment programs are authorized to provide buprenorphine care. The 2006 survey states that 94 of these facilities were funded in some manner by the federal, state, county, or local government, and 72 centers had some form of agreement with managed care organizations to aid in providing substance abuse treatment services. New Mexico also showed a one-day treatment client total of 12,634, with most receiving outpatient treatment (which also includes drug detox programs). Notably, of the total client amount, 1,484 were below 18 years old.

In New Mexico, the last 15 years has shown a decrease in the amount of alcohol-only treatment admissions, and an elevation in methamphetamine treatment admissions. Specifically, alcohol-only admissions decreased from 58 percent in 1992 to 34 percent in 2005, while drug-only admissions increased from 10 percent in 1992 to 22 percent in 2005.

For individuals requiring drug-only treatment but not receiving it in the year prior, New Mexico’s rates have remained at or below the national average. Conversely, the rates for individuals requiring alcohol treatment but did not receive it in the year prior have been at or higher than the national average, especially for individuals age 18 to 25.

Serious psychological distress (SPD) and major depressive episodes (MDE) are psychological conditions that can affect almost anyone. However, drug or alcohol use can make an individual more susceptible to these disorders. In New Mexico, the state population rates for SPD and MDE have stayed below the national average while the rate for individuals age 18 to 25 has remained above the national rate. Additionally, treatment admissions for individuals with psychological problems in New Mexico have more than doubled since 1992.

If you suspect drug abuse in anyone close to you, look for psychological changes in their demeanor as well, as drug and alcohol use are closely linked with psychological disorders.